Grace City Denver

This psalm urges us to sing praise to God for his wonderful deeds in the past, for his presence with us in the present, and for the hope of his future victory. It illustrates what it means to recount the works of the Lord.

God's majesty is renowned throughout the earth. As we look into the sky with the naked eye or the most powerful telescope, we see his power and glory on display. As we study human nature and this unique stewardship we have to govern the earth as God's vice-regents, we see his power and glory on display. But the foremost display of God's glory is in the Gospel. Jesus made himself lower than the angels in order to be the True Man of Psalm 8 - living the life we ought to have lived and dying the death we ought to have died, so we can receive the grace of salvation.

How do you feel when someone slanders you? How do you want to respond to combat that false narrative and defend your reputation? How ought you to respond in faith when you are reaping the unjust consequences of someone else's lies?

David laments some unknown personal sin and its effects on his soul and body. He knows the Lord has chastised him; but at the same time, he trusts God to forgive and restore.

The theme of this Psalm is simple: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. We'll consider the characteristics, and end, of both persons.

Everyone's pursuing "The Good Life," and many are looking to false and counterfeit gods to deliver it. David exposes the futility of this path and calls us to offer right sacrifices to God instead. He promises The Good Life is a byproduct of seeking God's face.

David is on the run for his life, pursued by the armies of his own son, Absalom. In the midst of overwhelming circumstances, his heart trusts in the character of God, and he sleeps peacefully. He believes God will ultimately save him by rendering his enemies harmless.

The world views God's law and boundaries as oppressive and enslaving. One of the main reasons for rebellion is that people believe they have to cast off God's rules in order to achieve their own freedom and autonomy. But it's a fool's errand.

God laughs at, and is angry at, those who plot this way. He installs his Son as King over them by raising him from the very tomb they put him in. But why the warning? Why the threats of destruction? Because it's actually a merciful call to repent and to reorder our lives under his care. It's an invitation to come and find refuge in the God who wants to make us truly free.

Psalm 1 questions the path we're pursuing in search of the good life: the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of God. Counterintuitively, it is the Law of God -- and delighting in that Law -- that actually leads to a life of flourishing and happiness.

In our culture we expect work to provide for us a measure of autonomy, productivity, impact, and progress. Work is frustrating when we don't experience these things. What are your specific challenges at work - and how can you face them with a gospel perspective?